QSO J0313−1806

QSO J0313−1806^[2] was the most distant, and hence also the oldest known quasar at z = 7.64, at the time of its discovery.^[1] In January 2021, it was identified as the most redshifted (highest z) known quasar, with the oldest known supermassive black hole (SMBH) at (1.6±0.4)×10⁹ solar masses.^[3][4][5] The 2021 announcement paper described it as "the most massive SMBH at z > 7".^[6] This quasar beat the prior recordsetting quasar, ULAS J1342+0928.^[7] In 2023, UHZ1 was discovered, setting a new record for most distant quasar, eclipsing that of QSO J0313−1806.^[8]

QSO J0313−1806
Artist's impression of quasar J0313–1806 showing the supermassive black hole and the extremely high velocity wind
Observation data (Epoch J2000.0)
Constellation	Eridanus
Right ascension	03h 13m 43.84s
Declination	−18° 06′ 36.4″[1]
Redshift	7.6423±0.0013[1]
Distance	13 billion ly (4.0 billion pc) (light travel distance) 30 billion ly (9 billion pc) (proper distance)
See also: Quasar, List of quasars

One of the 2021 paper authors, Feige Wang, said that the existence of a supermassive black hole so early in the existence of the Universe posed problems for the current theories of formation since "black holes created by the very first massive stars could not have grown this large in only a few hundred million years".^[4] The redshift z = 7.642 corresponds to an age of about 600 million years.

See also

• Direct collapse black hole, a process by which black holes may form less than a few hundred million years after the Big Bang
• List of the most distant astronomical objects
• List of quasars
• PSO J172.3556+18.7734
• ULAS J1342+0928